A lot of eyebrows were raised and others chuckled as Miss Philippines Earth 2016 contestant, Miss Zamboanga Bellatrix Tan uttered her insight on La Nina, but this phenomenon in reality is not a laughing matter and Filipinos should be well-prepared when the disaster sets in.

Yes, El Nino bought about a lot of problems in the country and everyone is in a hurry in ending the drought but the onset of La Nina is no better than the other.

La Nina occurs when a cooling of the ocean surface off the western coast of South America happens every 4 to 12 years thus affecting the Pacific and eventually disturbs other weather patterns.

Material lost can easily be replaced but the lives that were lost during these typhoons will never be bought back. We often place these problems on the shoulder of the government but the truth is all of us can do something to help alleviate the matter.

La Nina and Philippine drainage system are a bad pair and the incoming administration will be having their hands full in resolving this matter.While we are certain that the government is doing its part in building the necessary flood mitigating infrastructures like sufficient drainage systems and other flood control projects such as PROJECT NOAH, it will take a long time and a lot of money to complete them all.

In the meantime, how can the people living in the 26,000 flood-prone barangays – as identified by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council or NDRRMC – in the Philippines cope with massive flooding and the great challenges that come with it? And even after completing such infrastructures, how about the many other areas outside Metro Manila and other major cities in the Philippines that aren’t included in such infrastructure projects?

THE H2O SALAMANDER, an amphibious multi-utility vehicle​

In response to this particular challenge posed by today’s severe weather, a cutting-edge Filipino innovation and technology company – H2O Technologies – has developed the H2O Salamander. It is an amphibious multi-utility vehicle that can safely run on both land and water, yes even in flood waters.

Designed by Mr. Atoy Lim Llave of Atoy Body Kits, This technology is a potential game changer in terms of responding to typhoon-related disasters and mitigating the effects of severe flooding, especially in highly urbanized areas.

​The vehicle can be utilized to ensure continuity to provide basic services needed by people in every flood prone barangays.

​The H2O Salamander can accommodate up to 6 passengers (driver included) and comes in electricity and gasoline powered versions.

THE PARTNERSHIP

H2O Technologies is partnering with non-government organization (NGO) that helps the Philippine government in dealing natural calamities like typhoons and massive flooding – the Philippine Red Cross.

The Red Cross provides critical disaster management services to local government units (LGU) severely affected by natural calamities like floods through its disaster relief activities like rescue operations, among others. The partnership will help local government units manage natural calamities better with the pledge of 500 units of the H2O Salamander.

What we can do

In order for this campaign to come to a fruition, an amount US$4.3 million needs to be raised.

The campaign will give social change supporters and anyone who cares for the country the opportunity to donate $10, $50, $100, $150 and $2,500 in this crowd funding campaign;

How it’s done

To achieve this goal, a crowd funding campaign via www.startsomegood.com, a platform for social enterprises, nonprofit projects and change makers was formed and will run from 27 June 2016 to 26 August 2016.

Win-Win proposition

Aside from the opportunity to help and assist in dealing with and managing floods and other typhoon-related calamities much better, supporters will also receive the following:​For $10 support/donation:

Acknowledgement of the Supporter by including his or her name on the H2O Salamander’s Vision Wall Website.

For $50 support/donation:

Acknowledgement of the Supporter by including his or her name on the H2O Salamander’s Vision Wall Website

Your company will also get an advertising opportunity, as its logo can be on the doors of One of the 500 units that will be donated to the Philippine Red Cross.

Note: Costs of shipping the limited edition shirts, LED lanterns, and the 58-piece emergency and survival kits are already included in the above-mentioned support amounts

By logging on to www.startsomegood.com and with your support, you can take part in bringing a significant change that can help countless number of people’s lives during natural calamities, particularly severe flooding in the Philippines. And that change is the H2O Salamander.